NY's 1st Case Of South African Coronavirus Variant Found On LI

LONG ISLAND, NY — The first case of the South African variant of the coronavirus has been identified in a Long Island resident, officials said Sunday.

According to Gov. Andew Cuomo, as New York State's positivity rate continues to drop to 2.99 percent, the first case was identified in a Nassau County resident.

The sequencing was conducted at Opentrons Labworks Inc's Pandemic Response Lab, a New York City-based commercial lab, and verified at the Wadsworth Center in Albany, Cuomo said. Last week, a Connecticut resident who had been hospitalized in New York City was found to have the South African variant.

"We continue to see a reduction in positivity and hospitalizations throughout the state, which is good news, and this progress is allowing us to reopen the valve on our economy even further," Cuomo said. "But with the discovery of a case of the South African variant in the state, it's more important than ever for New Yorkers to stay vigilant, wear masks, wash hands and stay socially distanced. We are in a race right now — between our ability to vaccinate and these variants which are actively trying to proliferate — and we will only win that race if we stay smart and disciplined."

A total of 75 deaths was reported statewide over the past 24 hours.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran commented on the new variant discovered: "Case numbers and positivity rates in Nassau County continue to drop — but we need to keep that progress going. We don’t believe the South African variant is more deadly, but it may be more contagious. The best response is to continue the tried and true precautions: wearing masks, avoiding social gatherings, distancing, staying home, and getting tested when sick," she said.

Nassau County, Curran added, is "New York's leading large county in vaccinations according to State data, and we’ll continue to get as many shots in arms as quickly as we can.”

According to a report by CBS News, a "small-scale study" suggested that the new South African strain could lessen antibody protection provided by the Pfizer vaccine by about two-thirds; Pfizer said there is no clinical evidence to support that statement, the report said.